I play the Sicilian because it offers an unbalanced, dynamic and exciting game. But unfortunately, there are some lines which lead to a forced draw in the Accelerated Dragon. Here is one:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 a5 9. f3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 f5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Rd1 Rxd1+ 16. Kxd1 fxe4 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. b3 exf3 19. gxf3 Rf8
To make sure I wasn't fooling myself, I ran over 100 engine games between Hiarcs 10 and Rybka 1.2. All the games were draws.
What to do about this? Sure, theoretically it is good for Black to draw against White, but I dont want my opponents to have such an easy way out. It is enough that the Maroczy Bind is drawish, there was no need for a forced draw! 😉 What would you do in my position? Would you stick with it or perhaps learn the Najdorf etc.?
Originally posted by exigentskyTake comfort in the fact that your opponents will rarely follow theory that deep especially in OTB. They usually deviate way earlier then move 20. By you disclosing such lines just sets you up. Beware! 🙂
I play the Sicilian because it offers an unbalanced, dynamic and exciting game. But unfortunately, there are some lines which lead to a forced draw in the Accelerated Dragon. Here is one:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 a5 9. f3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 f5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Rd1 ...[text shortened]... 😉 What would you do in my position? Would you stick with it or perhaps learn the Najdorf etc.?
Yeah, I hope so. But unfortunately, after move 9, the responses are obvious because they are pretty much forced. 🙁
BTW: Rahim, what would you do in my case? Stick with it, pick another, etc.? Right now, I've got mixed feelings. This isn't the only problem with this opening. It is also hard to get anything better than a draw in the Maroczy bind, for example.
Originally posted by exigentskyThere's plenty of forced draws in the Najdorf variation. This is straight out of the book, literally - I was following the line in John Nunn's The Complete Bg5 Najdorf and ended up following it right to the forced draw at the end...: Game 1424399.
Yeah, I hope so. But unfortunately, after move 9, the responses are obvious because they are pretty much forced. 🙁
BTW: Rahim, what would you do in my case? Stick with it, pick another, etc.? Right now, I've got mixed feelings. This isn't the only problem with this opening. It is also hard to get anything better than a draw in the Maroczy bind, for example.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtwhy not ...Kg7. Rf7?
There's plenty of forced draws in the Najdorf variation. This is straight out of the book, literally - I was following the line in John Nunn's The Complete Bg5 Najdorf and ended up following it right to the forced draw at the end...: Game 1424399.
Doesn't black have to lose the queen?
Originally posted by exigentskyWell every opening has some drawish lines. That's why I really dislike facing the caro-kann. I got several games on here and played different opening against strong player and settled with the panov line. Gives an isolated pawn but White has a decent attack.
Yeah, I hope so. But unfortunately, after move 9, the responses are obvious because they are pretty much forced. 🙁
BTW: Rahim, what would you do in my case? Stick with it, pick another, etc.? Right now, I've got mixed feelings. This isn't the only problem with this opening. It is also hard to get anything better than a draw in the Maroczy bind, for example.
I used to play 1.e4 e5 but I found most of my opponents around my strenght would go for the ruy exchange and the game would always end in a draw. That frustrated me, so I started learning the sicilian and will break that in slowly into OTB.
I wouldn't worry too much. Play some quick games with different sicilian system and pick one you like. In OTB people rarely go that deep into theory unless you are playing a strong player in which case a draw is okay. But as for CC, you can't do much since people can follow theory for a long time.
I like the Najdorf but I play e6 always instead of e5. The other one svesknikov? with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 Ndb5 is really interesting. I like how aggressive it is but don't like giving up the d5 square.
Intersting, I suppose you're right. The Accelerated Dragon has no monopoly on drawish lines. However, the thought that an opponent rated 400 points lower than me would just use this and draw is very irksome. I wonder what a GM would do if he knew he had some line like this. Would he just give up the opening?
Originally posted by exigentskyYou might be able to outplayer low rated opponents in the middlegame, endgame.
Intersting, I suppose you're right. The Accelerated Dragon has no monopoly on drawish lines. However, the thought that an opponent rated 400 points lower than me would just use this and draw is very irksome. I wonder what a GM would do if he knew he had some line like this. Would he just give up the opening?
There are lots of openings which result in and equal position after the opening. But the stronger player will usually win the game. They make less mistakes and can start building some advantage slowly.
They have some articles about this at www.jeremysilman.com
I think it's under advanced instruction middle game. The title is how to beat a weaker player.
Basically you can beat them in these different ways:
1.opening
2.middlegame
3.endgame
and I think there were 2 more, experience and strategy.
Originally posted by exigentskyI played out the line you gave and yes it looks very drawish.
I know, but if they know that line, there won't be a middlegame. It simplifies straight into a completely drawn endgame and White has a slightly more straightforward plan.
However, why do you have to follow that line? You can deviate from it. One major option you have instead of 8...a5 is 8...d6.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.h4 a5
And you got yourself an exciting game.
Checkout this site. It's made from only master games I belive:
http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/opening-database.html
8. ...d6 would be a completely different repertoire and it would also mean that I would face the Yugoslav Attack. I already face one tough line, the Maroczy bind, facing the Yugoslav too would double the work involved! I might as well switch to a whole different Sicilian if I am to change to d6 because it may actually be easier. 🙁
Originally posted by exigentskyDo what you gotta do.
8. ...d6 would be a completely different repertoire and it would also mean that I would face the Yugoslav Attack. I already face one tough line, the Maroczy bind, facing the Yugoslav too would double the work involved! I might as well switch to a whole different Sicilian if I am to change to d6 because it may actually be easier. 🙁
I think you spend a lot of time on your openings though?
I seen you posting a whole bunch about different opening system. Are you studying other parts of chess also or just the opening?
Spend more time on the other parts. If the person doesn't play the opening you studied then that would be a waste of time.
Originally posted by exigentskyMaybe you could switch to the pure Dragon (6...g6). Sure, you'll have to face the Yugoslav Attack, but it's a lot more fun than the Maroczy Bind!
8. ...d6 would be a completely different repertoire and it would also mean that I would face the Yugoslav Attack. I already face one tough line, the Maroczy bind, facing the Yugoslav too would double the work involved! I might as well switch to a whole different Sicilian if I am to change to d6 because it may actually be easier. 🙁